The Tipplers will be signing copies of the French Quarter Drinking Companion throughout Tales of the Cocktail. We will be at the Tales of the Cocktail bookstore in the Monteleone Hotel as well as making an appearance at Fleurty Girl’s French Quarter location. See dates and times below. If you haven’t picked up your copy, come on out and get an autographed one!

“…what a fun little travelogue, with witty, detailed descriptions of visits to dozens of watering holes…I went through the whole book looking just at ‘Tattoo themes’ …”
Judy Walker, NOLA.com/ The Times-Picayune

A few months ago, we stumbled across Bartendro, which promised/threatened to end bartending as we know it. Though the device looked a little sketchy — like a trailer park meth lab fueled by booze — the concept was there. We knew it was just a matter of time before someone took the basic idea and spruced it up.

And behold, someone has:

On the upside, “Monsieur” is probably a better name than “Bartendro”, which is a little campy for most tastes.

On the downside…well, look, we understand that sometimes you just want a quick drink, without all the muss and fuss. We get it. Really. But Monsieur is missing two key ingredients found in truly exceptional cocktails:

1. Freshness. There’s no telling how long some of Monsieur’s ingredients sit in its dark little confines. You know what a container of OJ looks like after a week in your fridge? You wanna make a cocktail with that?

2. Creativity. Sure, a by-the-book Pimm’s Cup can be refreshing. But sometimes, we have a hankering for something different, or we want to improve on a time-honored classic. What if we have a hankering for fresh ginger in that Pimm’s Cup? What if we want to send our Madras down South with apricot nectar instead of OJ? Monsieur can’t cut the mustard.

This gadget — or ones very much like it — will probably be a hit in places like Las Vegas, full of high-end hotels needing high-tech ways to serve thirsty guests and boost profit. But hopefully, there will remain a place for craft cocktails and creative bartenders for many years to come.

Remember how we said that The French Quarter Drinking Companionwas almost here? Well, scratch the almost, because it’s on shelves now! As we see it, you’ve got three ways to grab a copy of your very own:

Sunday, September 29
Launch partyThis is the big one! Join us for light refreshments and readings from The French Quarter Drinking Companion. Complimentary Sazerac with every book purchase!
One Eyed Jacks, 615 Toulouse Street
New Orleans, Louisiana
2:00pm – 5:00pm

Technically speaking, the hard copies won’t be ready for another couple of weeks. (There’s a lot of ink to dry.) However, you — yes, you! — can pre-order your copy today at Barnes & Noble, Amazon, or any other online retailer. Do so, and you’ll save a good bit off the retail price!

Stay tuned for more information about book launch parties (where we’ll have real books in hand, ready to sign), readings, and many other events — which will of course be boozy and fun. We hope you’ll join us.

It’s finally here! (Well, almost.) Our new book, The French Quarter Drinking Companion, will arrive in stores this September! Here’s a short description:

Pull up a stool and join three long-time New Orleanians as they sip their way through the best drinking neighborhood in America, the French Quarter. From sophisticated saloons to dilapidated dives, this essential guide reveals snapshot narratives of 100 Vieux Carré bars and why drinking remains an essential part of the city’s identity. Written by Allison Alsup, Elizabeth Pearce, and Richard Read, with full-color photographs by John d’Addario and Gavin Macarthur.

The book will arrive on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and other websites very soon, and we’ll post links as soon as we get ’em. If you just can’t wait — and of course you can’t, right? — you can pre-order a copy today by contacting Scott Campbell at scampbell@pelicanpub.com or 504-368-1175 ext. 335.

Stay tuned for more info, including details about our fabulous, festive launch party and a full schedule of readings!